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[Barbara’s been here a few days, now. She’s explored a good chunk of the city after memorising the maps. She’s scrolled through dozens of network posts, getting a feel for her sudden compatriots. (In other words, "building an extensive database of files".)

She still feels out of her element – she has no tower, here, no network of power and persuasion – but she’s slowly starting to relax.

So her smile is more or less genuine when she makes her own introduction.]

Hello, everyone. I’m Barbara. [She considered an alias, back when she first arrived, but she didn’t see much point.] I'm new, so I've got my fair share of questions. [A fleeting, rueful smile that hides her frustration.]

How well-integrated have the Transports become? How many of you have jobs here? Have we set up any regulations or enforcement? Has anyone attempted any sort of education system? [She knows some of this already, but she'd like a number of experiences and perspectives.]

[Tony Stark | Encryption 100%]

[The air-tight encryption isn't so much necessary as it is habit.]

I hear you're a good man to talk to about mechanics.

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( Steph just made a Babs' post! sound, and thus Ellie is now looming over the network. As effectively as one can loom via video, which is not terrible.

Mostly she just looks kind of surly. )

So you're Barbara.

( Arms crossed and looking mightily suspicious.

Adults are not her favourite, and Bats sound a bit shit. )

[She's very careful not to smile.]

And you must be Ellie.

Gold bloody star.

( That's one very intense Australian accent, just by the by, and there's a few moments of silence before she very abruptly lays it out. )

Listen, Steph reckons you're all right, but from what I can tell, most of your lot are a pack of dickheads.

( Steph's trained her about masks and vigilantes and secret identities, and maybe she's open about it but that doesn't mean Babs would be, so she resists the urge to say Bats, even with an encryption. )

So if you give Steph a hard time, any kind of it for whatever bullshit reason you can come up with, I'll give you a hundred reasons to regret it.

( Ellie: tact is overrated )

[Barbara appreciates the discretion, almost as much as she does the protectiveness.]

I don't plan to, but it's nice to know I've got someone to keep me on my toes.

[She is smiling now, just a little.]

( She's not sure if she likes the fact that Babs is smiling or if it irritates her. )

Yeah, people don't plan a lot of things.

( But they do them anyway, and adults from Steph's world sound about as useless as the ones from her own. )

True.

[She leans forward, slightly, hands clasping in front of her.]

I'm not going to lie and say I'm always nice, or even fair. [Even to the people who deserve it most.] You ever need to call me out, go for it.

You can count on it.

( Perhaps a little too sharp, there, El. She considers Babs carefully for a few moments, before her curiousity wins out: )

So what did Steph tell you?

[Maybe she should be offended, but really, Barbara finds the unrelenting harshness almost endearing. Ellie would do well in Gotham, she thinks.]

That you're close. That you're together. [Her eyes narrow, just slightly, as her voice softens.] She cares about you a lot.

( Being from rural Australia in the early nineties makes talking about being together with an adult, with someone she doesn't know, just ever so slightly awkward. Ellie has her times when she needs to be alone, to isolate herself with her thoughts, and once she's back from that she's more like a bulldozer.

She's back in the bulldozer state, on this particular topic, and there's something like relief and pride and something softer that tempers her expression all wound together. )

I care about her, too.

( As she likes to think the starter for this conversation reflects rather well. )

She made out like you're more decent to her than that other bloke.

( Batman. )

Good. [That's what she wanted to know most of all, really, the Ellie cares about Steph just as much, and it seems like she does. That's - it's a strange sort of relief.

How did this become her life.

Her lips twitch, like they don't know whether to smile or scowl.]

It's not a high bar.

Yeah, what's the deal with that?

( Although, as an afterthought: ) What, do people become adults and lose the capacity to be responsible people? Jesus Christ.

( Eyerolling, eyes rolling everywhere. )

[Her smile is sad, now. She could tell Ellie exactly what the deal was, what Bruce always refused to say out loud.]

Man has issues.

[That'll do, for now.

And then her expression tightens, because - apparently yes.

Her voice is quiet, when she speaks again.]

We should have been there for her. [She doesn't know what Steph has told her, but - that's vague enough, if she hasn't.]

No shit.

( Maybe it's too harsh, but Steph had told her about Sionis, and about disappearing and about Robin being taken away from her. She's told her about the Gang War, and El's heard her talk about what geniuses and how great the other Bats are, like it means she's something less.

And then there's Colonel Findlay and Major Harvey and the dickheads she's been caught dealing with at home. Ellie's all rawness and rough edges, but even if verging on six months here has softened her and made it easier to accept new people, find adults that don't suck, any time it comes to Steph all the suspicions and protectiveness are going to ramp right back up. )

You planning on doing a better job here, or what?

[As far as Barbara's concerned, it's nothing less than she deserves, than they all deserve. They failed her, just like they failed Jason.

The fact that Stephanie recovered, that Jason is alive, doesn't change that.

The urge to snap back is there, all the same, but she doesn't. She knows she'd be just as wary, just as judgemental in Ellie's shoes.]

I am. [Her voice is intent. It's a promise, to all three of them.]

Good.

( Sharp, something insistent and dangerous in her tone. She might be important to Steph, but she'll give Babs hell if she messes anything up with her. Not that she's naive enough to think she could outsmart Babs, or even do much to scare her with all the things Steph has told her about Bats, but if Ellie is anything, it's determined. Maybe even obstinate would be a good way for it, and it's coupled up with an inclination to throw herself into things full force.

That said, she didn't really have much prepared for this other than circling Barbara with her hackles raised, and at least Barbara has admitted that a) they fucked up and b) she should do better. )

All right, then.

( Okay, she's leaning back in her chair, a little, drawing up her legs so she can rest her chin on her knees. )

[Barbara, in contrast, leans forward, hands folding on her desk.]

I assume you plan to watch out for her too. [Suddenly she feels like a protective parent, but - well, she owes that to Stephanie, doesn't she? To be protective.] Be there for her, but don't make her think you don't believe in her.

Yeah, of course.

( That goes without saying, Ms. Gordon. ) Hey. I've always got Steph's back. I reckon she's better at getting stuff done than just about anyone here.

( So maybe she idealises her a little bit, but whatever. ) Don't get the wrong idea. I'm not an idiot, I know how this war racket works, and Steph's doing a good job. I'd like to see anyone else in your lot do better.

Good. [And she smiles, slight and sincere.] I don't doubt it. Stephanie's always been good at adapting and working with what she has.

( Barbara stop agreeing with her, it makes it really hard for her to argue, and she likes arguing. It's why Steph is so great, they can have stupid stubbornness bickering matches over nothing. )

Okay.

( So... suspicious... ) Uh. So have you got this place worked out yet, or is there-- I dunno. Stuff I can help with.

( She's a jerk, but she's a good kid really. )

I've got it mostly sorted out, I think, but thanks.

How long have you been here?

All right.

Uh, five and a half months, I reckon? Give or take.

( Jesus, that's a while. ) Listen, I'll get outta your hair. I guess you know where to find me if you got questions.

[That is a while, and it makes Barbara feel - a bit frustrated, a bit determined, a bit protective.]

I do. And you can always contact me, too, if you need to.

Yeah. Sure.

( ADULTS ARE USELESS, BARBARA. Maybe she sounds just quietly dubious. And, Ellie's out. )

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Video

video. ( private. ) but let's face it her encryptions are not the best

video. ( private. ) it's okay babs makes it better

GOOD OLD BABS

SHE'S A HELPER

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this is not late i promise

neither is this

we are super good at things

the very best

LIKE NO ONE EVER WAAAAAS

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